‘The Dude’ Sings: Jeff Bridges Plans Album for Summer

Yet another actor has decided to expand their artistic horizons, but this time it isn’t a young star or starlet like you may expect. Jeff Bridges, who won an Oscar for his role in the 2009 film Crazy Heart and is widely known for playing “The Dude” in the slacker hit The Big Lebowski, has signed with Blue Note Records and plans to release an album this summer.

Bridges, 61, will grace the cover of the May 2011 issue of Esquire, in which he will discusses his latest career move. He previously released an album, Be Here Soon, in 2000, which was a mix of R&B, country and blues. For the new album, Bridges will team up with producer and songwriter T-Bone Burnett.

“Acting, man,” he said to the magazine. “Believe me, I like life to come at me a little slower than that. I was just playing the calm guy.”

Despite his Oscar-winning success and recent nomination for his role in True Grit, Bridges revealed to Esquire that he felt this was the right time to work on another passion, taking advantage of his fame in a different way. He co-wrote many of the songs alongside Burnett, a friend of Bridges for over 30 years who also put together the soundtrack for The Big Lebowski.

During promotions for True Grit, Bridges also told Shortlist magazine that he would like to work with Elton John.

“I was recently on the Speaking Clock tour, headlined by Leon Russell and Elton John,” he said. “Elvis Costello was there and I got to sing with him, which was cool. I really enjoyed it. Elton is a great person. We talked about doing a duet. I’d certainly like to.”

No track list or album title has been released yet, nor are any collaborations confirmed. Bridges and Blue Note Records plan for the album to be released sometime this summer. His first gig will be September 1 and 2 at the Fallsview Casino Resort in Niagara Falls.

This article was originally published on AllMediaNY.com